Wire-stretching device



J. KING WIRE STRETCHING DEVICE Sept. 2 1924.

2 Shoots-Sheet l Filed Abril 12. 1923 guna/nto@ Sept. -2 1924.

J. KING WIRE STRETCHING DEVICE Filed Avril 12. 1925 2 Shoots-Sheet. 2

Patented Sept. Z, 1924,

UNITED STATES PATENT orifice.

JOSEPH KENG, 0F NADLLA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MILD G. ALBRECHT, OF UNADILLA, NEVI YORK.

VVIRE-STRETCHING DEVICE.

Application filed April 12, 1923. Serial No. 631,662.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, Josnrrr KING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Unadilla, in the county of Otsego and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in a Wire-Stretching Device, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to an improved Wire fence tool and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved tool of this character, which can be effectively used for both stretching wire to permit the attaching thereof to fence posts'and for drawing broken terminals ofa fence wire together to permit the same to be readily spliced, or otherwise secured together. v

Another prime obj ect of the invention is the provision of novel clamps associated with the improved wire fence tool for-lirmly gripping the wire, so that the slipping of the wire is absolutely precluded, the clamps being so constructed as to permit the ready and easy operation thereofl and to permit the lifting of the tool from out of engage.- ment with the wire when the same has been spliced by simply lifting up on the operating handles of the clamps.

A further prime object of this invention is the provision of the improved wire fence tool embodying a frame `carrying a stationary clamp and ya movable clamp, the frame carrying novel means for forcibly bringing the movable clamp toward the stationary clamp, means for moving the movable clamp toward the stationary clamp being so arranged that when the wire is under the greatest tension, the greatest and direct pull will be exerted on themovable clamp.

vWith these and other objects in view,`the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the iinproved wire fence implement.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the stationary clamp portion of the improved wire fence implement taken on the line22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the sliding clamp portion of the improved wire fence implement taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure L is a detail transverse section through one of the wire clamps.

Referringto the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the improved wire fence implement which embodies a frame B, the stationary clamp portion C; the movable clamp portion D; and the operating means E for moving the sliding clamp portion toward the stationary clamp portion.

The frame B comprises a longitudinally extending main supporting or slide bar 5, which can be of tubular construction if so desired, so as to reduce the weight of the implement. Disposed in spaced parallel relation to the slide or main bar 5 is the guide rod 6 and as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, one end of the guide rod 6 is provided with a right angular extension 7 which is secured in any preferred way to the main or slide bar 5 adjacent to the outer end thereof. rlhe opposite end of the guide bar terminates short of the adjacent end of the slide bar 5 and is secured in any preferred way such as by nuts S to the right angularly extending portion 9 of an attaching and supporting strip 10.

The stationary clamp C also forms a part of the frame and it can be seen that this clamp consists of a base plate 15 which is bent around and secured to a supporting' sleeve 16 fastened to thc slide or main bar 5 adjacent to the opposite end thereof at the point of connection of the guide bar 6 with the -main or slide rod 5. This base plate is then extended toward the supporting strip 10 as at 17 and is secured thereto by an angle bracket 18. A securing and reinforcing 'plate 19 is connected to the base plate 15 by suitable rivets or the like and also turns about the sleeve 16 and extends toward the strip 10, but terminates short'of the angle bracket 1S. rlhe outer end of the base plate 15 is of a substantial U-shape in cross section and embodies upstanding spaced parallel flanges 20 and this'portion constitutes the stationary jaw of the clamp. A supporting bracket 21 is secured to the base plate 15 and pivotally supports the arcuate shape movable jaw 22 which is adapted to swing toward and away from the stationary jaw portion of the plate and to ride between the flanges thereof. It is preferred to make the movable jaw 22 of resilient material. In order to forcibly urge the movable jaw 22 toward the stationary jaw portion of the plate 15, a cam 23 is provided which embodies an operating handle 24 and the throw portion 25 which engages the movable jaw. It is obvious that when the operating handle 24 is swung upwardly that the throw portion will be moved into engagement with the movable jaw and thus force the same into intimate contact with the stationary jaw portion of the plate 15.

The sliding` jaw D is of substantially the same construction as the stationary clamp C, withKV the exception that the connecting and reinforcing plate member 17 is twisted to form a guide eye 26 which is slidably mounted upon the guide bar 6.

The means E provided for moving the 'sliding clamp D toward the stationary clamp C embodies a shaft 30 which extends transversely of the frame and is journaled in the sleeve 16 and the supporting` strip 10. The` outer end of the shaft 30 is provided with an operating crank 31 which can be provided with any preferred type of hand grip or handle 32. A pull chain 33 has its outer end connected to the movable clamp portion D adjacent to the slide or main bar 5, as at 34, while the opposite end of the chain is connected to the shaft 30 adjacent to the strip 10.

Now it can be seen that as the shaft 30 is rotated by means of the hand crank 31 that the chain can be wound thereabout and that as the clamp D is moved toward the clamp C that the chain will be wound toward-the slide or main bar 5 and thus a direct pull will be had on the movable clamp D when the clamp is moved in relative close proximity to the clamp D. It thus can be seen that as the wire gripped by the clamps C and D is placed under the greatest tension that a direct pull is exerted on the movable clamp. In order to prevent retrograde movement of the shaft 30, a pawl 36 is pivotally secured to a projection 37 on the strip 10 and is adapted to engage a ratchet wheel 38 secured to said shaft.

A hook 39 is secured to the end of the main supporting or slide bar 5 adjacent to the sleeve 16 and this hook 39 constitutes means whereby the implement can be attached to a post or the like by means of a chain when the implement is used for stretching wire to permit the same to be clamped toa fence post.

In use of the improved tool, when it is desired to mend a broken wire in a fence,

the clamps C and D are moved'into gripping position with the wire adjacent to the broken terminals thereof and it can be seen that when the movable jaws 22 of these clamps are swung` to their operative clamping position, that the same will crimp the wire between the flanges 20 formed on the jaw portions of the clamps and thus effectively prevent slipping of the wir-e. The crank 31 is now turned, which will bring the sliding clamp D toward the stationary clamp C and when the terminals of the wire have been brought in overlapping relation, the same are twisted or otherwise connected together in any preferred way. n

The implement can also be effectively used for taking up slack in fence wires by placing the tool in such a position that the clamps will be arranged on each side of a fence post and the clamps placed in gripping Contact withthe wire in which the slack is to be taken up. The hand crank can then be rotated so as to take up the slack and the slack portion of the wire can be twisted and secured 'to the ifence post.

In placing new'wire in position, one end of the implement is' anchoredv to a post by means of a hook 39 as heretofore described and the movable clamp D lplaced in clamping contact with the wire to be stretched and the hand crank 31 rotated so as to bring the wire forward into contact with Vthe post, after which the same is secured in place.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided an exceptionally simple and durable wire fence implement which will effectively accomplish the purposes intended.

Changes in details may be made Withoutv departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention.

lVhat I claim as new is:

1. In a wire fence implement, a frame including a main slide bar and a guide rod disposed in `parallel relation to the bar, a stationary clamp yat one end of the frame, a sliding clamp including a sleeve slidably mounted on the slide bar, a body plate attached to the sleeve, a stationary jaw formed on the outer end of the body plate, a movable jaw carried by the body plate, a reinforcing plate attached to the body plate and sleeve and hav-ing an eye formed on its inner. end to receive the guide rod, and means for moving the sliding clamp toward the stationary clamp.

2. In a wire stretching implement, a frame including a main slide bar, a guide rod disposed in parallel relation to the slide bar having an angularly extending foot formed on one end thereof attached to one end of the slide bar, a supporting strip connected to the opposite end of the guide rod, a stati onary jaw disposed at one end ofthe frame including a body plate connected to and extending around the slide bar havingits lower end connected tothe strip, a jaw formed on the outerend of the body plate,

eoA

a reinforcing plate connected to the body plate and disposed around the slide bar, a movable jaw carried by the body plate, a movable Wire clamp sldably mounted upon the slide bar and guide rod, and means for moving the sliding clamp toward the stationary clamp.

In testimony Whereol I afIlX my signature 1n presence of two Wltnesses.

JOSEPH KING.

lVitnessesl:

FRANCES E. SEAMAN, F. M. MEEKER. 

